By the loss of XP, in the current system. If we got rid of XP, we'd have to have a different venue. Yes, I know it isn't flawless. The entire system isn't flawless nor attempts or even claims to be. But saying "I have a lot of nodes with high reputations" is a marginally more useful statement than saying "I have a lot of XP" which is completely worthless.

Makeshifts last the longest.